William Walter Oliver

Bill Oliver, a South Bend native and the son of William H. and Violet Oliver, passed away May 4, 2009, at the age of 88. He was a January1939 graduate of South Bend Central High School and the president of his senior class. Bill lived in many cities across the country during his careers in broadcasting and with the Kroger Company, residing since 1977 in Cincinnati, OH. Bill's broadcasting career began at WSBT in South Bend and spanned 13 years, at stations WGN and WBBM in Chicago, KMOX in St. Louis, and WMBD in Peoria, IL. During Bill�s broadcasting career, he interviewed many famous personalities, including Joe E. Brown, Sophie Tucker, June Allyson, Barry Goldwater, Everett Dirkson, Edward R. Murrow, Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Harry Truman, and Helen Hayes. At WGN, he was announcer for the Eugenia Price radio drama series "Unshackled." After serving in sales at CBS in Chicago, Bill joined the Kroger Company in Cincinnati in 1956 to head broadcast advertising for the company. He was made operating officer in 1960, moving up from zone management in Dallas-Ft. Worth. In succeeding years, as vice president, he served in Dayton, Kansas City, Louisville, and Roanoke. He retired from Kroger in 1983. In Cincinnati, Bill held memberships in Coldstream Country Club and Rotary, and was active in The Anderson Hills United Methodist Church. He enjoyed skeet shooting, gardening, golf, and people, and was past president of the Kroger Retiree Club. Bill is preceded in death by his wife Margaret (Seuss) Oliver, also originally of South Bend. He is survived by their six children: Cynthia Fiefer of Scottsdale, AZ; Mary Anderson of Independence, MO; Susan Conrad of San Antonio, TX; Rebecca Callaway of Poway, CA; Thomas Oliver of Charleston, SC; and Janet Oliver of Alexandria, VA. He also is survived by his sister, Dorothy Oliver, of South Bend; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A Memorial service will be held in his honor 3:00 PM, Saturday, May 30th at Anderson Hills United Methodist Church, 7515 Forest Rd. in Cincinnati.